Egypt charges 2 Israelis with arms smuggling
Cairo prosecution says an Israeli citizen arrested on arms charges will face military tribunal; a second man will be tried in absentia
A statement from the prosecutor's office said the three would be tried in an emergency state security court, usually reserved for terrorism cases. No date for the trial has been set.
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Although not directly holding the suspects responsible for any of the violence, the statement said the smuggled weapons were to be used in "illegal" operations aimed at implicating Egyptian security forces. The statement gave no further details about the alleged plot.
The country's rulers have often blamed "hidden hands" and foreign funding in the violence.
According to Cairo authorities, the first suspect, an Israeli-Arab resident of Eilat, Moaz Zahalka, arrived at the Israel-Egypt border crossing at Taba, carrying a large wooden box which was found to contain an automatic rifle and ammunition in the box.
During his interrogation, Zahalka, a tour agent, confessed he had two accomplices: A Ukrainian living in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheik, who had asked another Israeli-Arab to send him the weapon. Zahalka frequently visits Egypt's Red Sea resorts, the statement said.
The Ukrainian and one Israeli-Arab are in custody, while the other Israeli has not been apprehended, the prosecution said.
Roi Kais contributed to this report
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